1999 Marietta Wall of Sound: Africa

The Marietta High School Wall of Sound performs their 1999 season show, "Africa: Ceremony, Song, and Ritual," Including symphony for winds and percussion (original composition) and Purgatorio at the Bands of America Grand Nationals semifinals. 23rd place after semifinals. Music by Robert W. Smith, arranged by Scott Hickey, drill by Michael Gaines.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Africa
• Marching
• Band
• Marietta
• High
• School
• Wall
• of
• Sound
• Bands
• America
• Grand
• Nationals
• BOA
• Ceremony
• Song
• and
• Ritual
• 1999

[pmonkey27]

For what it is, this performance is decent. I played the original arrangement in 2003 in a full symphony. I'm just disappointed that anyone decided it be a good idea for a marching band to play this piece given that marching bands use mellophones in lieu of real horns...which are perhaps the most instrument in the original composition. Additionally...the original percussion is WAY better. There are parts of these that I don't even recognize.

[wongedc]

@pmonkey27 Marching shows generally are more about appropriately translating pieces to the field in conjunction with a visual component (hence arrangment is key), not so much about fully accurate transcription and concert quality sound. (Although bands like Marcus HS might disagree.) And yes, the reason you don't recognize a lot of it is because there's a considerable amount of original composition and "Purgatorio" from the Divine Comedy.

[jewboy11505]

coolio

[RandomHero486]

@pmonkey27 Its funny you say this because when we played it in band I was thinking "man we should do this for the marching season!" Now that I can see what it would be, Im def. having 2nd thoughts. You're right the original perc. parts are WAY better! Being in percussion and playing this piece right now, I'd rather keep it in the theater and off the field.

[megabandman321]

the original is hard enough to learn, but memorizing it yeah that takes pure skill, especially the more advanced parts

[iheartguard09]

We are doing this show!!

[fyrefiyghter]

we are doing this show :D

[pmonkey27]

Also, given the original scores natural breaks for all instrument groups it wasn't really necessary to break it into multiple parts for the marching arrangement.

A lot of section are played far more staccato than they should be.

Finally get a percussion special 6 minutes in...but there should have been a lot of good percussion mini-features throughout instead. Just go listen to an original composition of the song...

[kepper55]

we did this show! well, something similar to it.

[magicsuperman13]

@DCBDlife Thanks. We're doing pretty great so far. Had a show last night and another one friday night :) Im loving this.

[DCBDlife]

@magicsuperman13 Us too. good luck